A new version of Ms. Marvel, Kamala Khan is a teenage girl with Pakistani parents who lives in New Jersey, according to the New York Times, who calls her "a multicultural and modern re-imagining of a heroine for the comic-book company that brought to the world the likes of Spider-Man, Iron Man, the Hulk and Captain America."

The Khan character, who is 16, reflects Marvel's desire to capture a diverse new audience, with a protagonist exploring not only being a teenager, but also living with a foreign-born family in a different culture. Her superpowers will include shape-shifting her arms, legs and body, the U.K.'s The Telegraph reported.

"I wanted Ms. Marvel to be true-to-life, something real people could relate to, particularly young women," the comic's writer, G. Willow Wilson, told The Telegraph. "High school was a very vivid time in my life, so I drew heavily on those experiences -- impending adulthood, dealing with school, emotionally charged friendships that are such a huge part of being a teenager."

It's a good thing some of us didn't have super powers as teenagers, or the world would be a very different place now.

"It's for all the geek girls out there and everybody else who's ever looked at life from the fringe," Wilson said.

-- Tony Hicks

Gaga going galactic

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Lady Gaga will sing in outer space in 2015.

Us Weekly reported the 27-year-old will blast off in a Virgin Galactic ship and let rip with a single track during the Zero G Colony high-tech musical festival in New Mexico.

It makes sense. She already dresses like an astronaut.

"She has to do a month of vocal training because of the atmosphere," said a source, who added that Gaga's glam squad will join her in the shuttle.

She should take David Bowie, so he can talk to ground control.

Zero G Colony is a three-day high-tech festival happening at Spaceport America in New Mexico, featuring entertainment and cutting-edge technology. Gaga's performance will take place on the third day at dawn, which will be approximately six months after the first Virgin Galactic commercial flight, if all goes as planned.

A source said the historic event will be "like nothing the world has seen before."

Nevertheless, a source told Us Weekly "Gaga has taken out a ridiculous life insurance policy."

-- Tony Hicks

Miley Cyrus tour dates

It's Miley Cyrus time.

The multimedia superstar, who is equally good at generating hits and headlines, is bringing her Bangerz Tour to the Bay Area. She performs Feb. 24 at Oracle Arena in Oakland and Feb. 25 at SAP Center in San Jose.

Tickets, priced at $37.50-$85.25, go on sale to the general public at 10 a.m. Nov. 16 through www.livenation.com.

There are also, of course, some presale opportunities. American Express cardholders can nab tickets early, from 10 a.m. Nov. 12 to 10 p.m. Nov. 15. Fans can also access a presale by signing up for a Facebook RSVP at http://bit.ly/--MileyRSVP.

The Bangerz Tour kicks off on Valentine's Day in Vancouver, BC. Cyrus announced plans for a tour during her recent appearance on a "Saturday Night Live" episode (re-airing Saturday).

The tour supports Cyrus' new album, "Bangerz," which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The album has already produced two blockbuster singles, "Wrecking Ball" and "We Can't Stop," which have combined to sell 4.3 million copies in the U.S. alone.

-- Jim Harrington

Paul Simon, Sting together

Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Paul Simon and Sting are coming to town -- together.

The two master singer-songwriters bring their On Stage Together tour to the SAP Center in San Jose on Feb. 17.

Tickets, priced from $43 to $253," go on sale at 10 a.m. Nov. 12 through Ticketmaster (www.ticketmaster.com). A presale begins at 10 a.m. Nov. 7 on the artist's websites -- www.paulsimon.com and www.sting.com. Also, American Express cardholders have presale opportunities.

This tour represents the joining forces of two of classic rock's top songbooks. Simon, of course, came to massive fame as one half of Simon and Garfunkel, but he's had just as much success as a solo artist. Sting helped make the Police one of the world's biggest bands in the '70s and '80s, before launching his own solo career.